Tieman, Osborne share lead after one round of Men's City golf tournament

A record 22 players broke par on Saturday

DANIEL R. PATMORE / SPECIAL TO EVANSVILLE COURIER &amp; PRESS
Caddie Rick Easterling points as he and Kevin Wassmer study the line on the 16th green before putting in the first round of the Evansville Courier &amp; Press Men’s City Golf Tournament Saturday at Fendrich Golf Course. Aug. 3, 2013

DANIEL R. PATMORE / SPECIAL TO EVANSVILLE COURIER &amp; PRESS
Tanner Mandel is not happy with his shot of the 14th tee and points where it went in the first round of the Evansville Courier &amp; Press Men’s City Golf Tournament Saturday at Fendrich Golf Course. Aug. 3, 2013

DANIEL R. PATMORE / SPECIAL TO EVANSVILLE COURIER &amp; PRESS
David Mills not happy with his shot off the 16th tee in the first round of the Evansville Courier &amp; Press Men’s City Golf Tournament Saturday at Fendrich Golf Course. Aug. 3, 2013

EVANSVILLE - Par took a pounding Saturday at Fendrich in the opening round of the 84th annual Evansville Courier & Press Men's City Golf Tournament.

Paced by co-leaders Chip Tiemann and Logan Osborne at 5-under par 65, a record 22 players broke par on the City course known for low scoring.

"We're not sure what the old record was, 17 or 18 guys under par, or when," said Fendrich head pro Dave English. "But we know this is the new one.

"The weather was perfect and the course in immaculate condition and the field took advantage of it. That's a lot of good scores."

Behind Tiemann and Osborne, the crowded leader board had 2011 City champion David Mills and former Mater Dei standout Kyle Seitz tied for third at 3-under 67 and eight players in a logjam at 68.

Tiemann, the early leader in the clubhouse, was surprised to still be in the lead.

"It's pretty exciting," said Tiemann, the recent winner of the club championship at Evansville Country Club. "There were so many good players in the afternoon I didn't expect it to hold up.

"It took me a while to get used to the greens today, but once I did I was able to make some putts. But I hit it pretty well all day."

Playing the back nine first, Tiemann parred the first seven holes before a birdie at No. 17, a short par-4. Then he made birdies on Nos. 1, 2, 5 and 7 on his back nine.

"I made about a 25-footer for birdie at No. 2," said Tiemann. "It had a big right-to-left break and I think that was the one that really got me going. I hit a lot of greens and then I ended well, hitting about a 30-footer for par at No. 9."

If Tiemann ended well, nobody started better than Osborne, who two-hopped the ball into the hole from the fairway at No. 10 for an eagle 2.

"I didn't expect that," said Osborne, the redshirt senior at the University of Southern Indiana who finished in a tie for third last year. "I've shot 65 before, but never started with a 2. It was pretty cool.

"But after all the high-fiving, you still have to settle down and play the next 17 holes. I got to 4-under after five holes, but if I don't make a 10-footer for bogey at No. 15 it might all get away. That was a real momentum saver. I was steady after that.

"But I've been playing well. I shot a 63 out here earlier in the week, so I came in with a lot of confidence and then I did a good job of getting off the tee out here. I hit some good wedges and putted well today, too."

Mills, the all-Big Ten performer who will be a senior at Indiana, also started well.

"I feel good about the overall score," he said. "But I was 3-under after five holes, so I could've finished better. But I had some distance control issues out of the rough. I used to just bomb it out there and go hit it again here, but not today."